The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Know

ROPE 1 ANALYSIS

Presented by:  Anna Warner

1.  Lesson To Be Learned

 Chapter 1 in The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Know is titled “Hi, Call Me______”.

The scenario begins at The Company’s annual picnic in the park.  It is an event where employees and executives come together, set aside their normal responsibilities and attire, and mingle amongst themselves.  Stanley just received a promotion to the Company’s headquarters in New York and seems to be a little “high” on himself.  While playing horseshoes and with a little bit of liquid courage, Stanley holds light conversation with another employee- not giving any thought to who exactly this individual is or potentially could be.  The other gentleman kept in tone with Stanley and asked if he was part of the sales department, mainly because Stanley stated he had just been transferred to the headquarters.  Stanley responded with a shocked and almost offended tone. Stanley portrayed himself as very presumptuous and egocentric individual.  He exposed a very snotty attitude regarding the project that he had taken the lead on and was shocked when this individual did not know anything about it.  Stanley definitely lost his team-first attitude.  After this short interaction, Stanley was shocked when someone told him who exactly he had been conversing with.  He has no idea he had been playing horseshoes with one of The Company’s executives.  

1. How Theory Helps Explain What Is Going On

The Neoclassical Organization Theory is often referenced to as the “human relations movement”.  This particular theory is concerned mainly on the employee, not production or technology.  Theorists focused on answering questions such as how to motivate, structure, and support employees within organizations (Rosa, 2012).  In studying this theory even further, it was determined that employee relationships were important for managers to consider.  Jobs that are highly standardized deal with poor performance and resistance.  The Neoclassical Theory proves that when employees share daily tasks, information and knowledge openly with one another, their needs for socialization are fulfilled- thus meaning more productivity at work (Hartzell, 2017t).  Tying in The Company picnic to this theory, the ritual of this gathering is an opportunity for employees and executives to be on equal footing, which enhances the human relations aspect with a sense of familiarity and not a sense of duty or subordination.  There are two main sources that encompass the Neoclassical Theory- the human relations movement and the behavioral movement.  Human relations is concerning with how people relate and interact within a group.  The behavioral aspect focused on the individual behaviors of employees (Hartzell, 2017).   Both of these approaches relates greatly to The Company’s picnic.